Perils of permissive societies
The philosophers of Western "progress" have been telling the world that the West would not take any step without thinking. We have been hearing this "glad tiding" throughout the 19th century and before the two world wars. But after the wars that killed millions of people and destroyed big cities and historic monuments people saw the barbarity of Westerners that contradicted what the philosophers had said.
It seems that the Western societies that developed and reached the stages of progress and prosperity under the shade of their democracies are currently moving toward individualism and selfishness as they ignore the interests and problems of others.
In the past there were incidents that children would not visit parents if they were not given fuel money in advance. Before that psychologists and educators advised parents to give children full freedom, allowing them to do whatever they want. These scholars later realized the dangerous situation created by their philosophy as they saw youths opening fire haphazardly at people in malls and streets... and kill them.
After seeing these dangerous developments, the scholars gave up the idea of giving full freedom to children and advised elders to control them by giving necessary guidance. But current developments proved that youth movements have become uncontrollable. The permissive societies will not accept anything short of total freedom. We can see the movements of young men and women in the West as well as in the East doing whatever they want, like the Occupy Wall Street movement. These movements have exceeded their limits and do not allow people to sleep peacefully. They keep on beating the drums even if others do not sleep. "Let them go to hell" is their attitude and philosophy.
Mankind has been believing for long that one man's freedom ends as another man's freedom begins. But the new "Occupy" movements have changed this longstanding concept. People now think that they have the freedom to beat the drum whenever they wish...even if it disturbs the sleep of others.
There was a press report recently that people in a most progressive European country came out in the open demanding authorities to give them the freedom to use marijuana, a recreational drug that gives users some kind of illusive pleasure. They did not ask for greater progress and democracy.
Another most amazing thing is that the president of the world's most powerful country announced recently his support for same-sex marriage in order to get some votes. I still believe that it was a decision taken by the Democratic Party, which is known for such stands. I don't believe that the majority of Americans as well as Michelle Obama and the president himself would accept such immoral practices.
A few years ago when I visited California I observed some colorful flags on top of some houses. It was neither the national flag not the flag of any other country or organization. When I asked about those flags, somebody told me it belonged to homosexuals. It shows that they are united to declare their homosexuality.
In short, the societies of progress in the West produce selfish individuals who do not care about others. The youths who commit malicious crimes in those societies are people who had not enjoyed the love and kindness of their mothers while they were children, because their mothers had left the families and children and ran away with their boyfriends. This phenomenon is not restricted to women as many men leave their wives and children and go with their girlfriends. In Western societies we see many families that are supported by either father or mother as the second half leaves the family to appease his or her selfishness. They are not ready to sacrifice their selfishness for the sake of their families and children.
This dangerous situation is fast spreading in eastern societies also as many men and women leave their families to "enjoy" their lives. This phenomenon of selfishness and extreme individualism is spreading all over the world like a disease.
A number of judges and lawyers assembled recently to remember the famous Greek philosopher Socrates who took poison to defend his freedom of expression and I am wondering whether Socrates would accept those who beat drums without allowing others to sleep as well as men and women running away with their boy or girl friends leaving their children on the street.
Muhammad Jaber Al-Ansari is a Bahraini academic and writer.
(Courtesy of Al-Hayat newspaper)
